Wheelsucker Blog - Week Three

A big thank you to everyone who has visited my Just Giving site and donated money. http://www.justgiving.com/Graham-Young-cycles-USA Monday 26th May 2014 Ironwood, Michigan. Lots of long, long hills in pine forests and lakes. 86F today and that nagging headwind. Entered new time zone today. Now six behind UK time. 106 miles. Average speed 12.8mph.




Lake Superior and the white line you see is actually the ice flow

 

Tueday 27th May 2014 Superior, Wisconson. Good day. Left 6am. Hills not so big. Wind not in my face. Internet in room not that good. 116 miles. Average speed 14.4mph.

Wednesday 28th May 2014

Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Started 6am. Very cold. Had to wear full winter clothes. Then hot at mid day. Entered Minnesota today. Roads are terrible. Big cracks and bumps every 25 yards. Picture shows Highway 20 sign. This should take me through all the way to the Rockies in Montana. 96 miles. Average speed 13.1mph.

Highway 20

Thursday 29th May 2014

Had a lay-in today. Left at 7am. Thermal jacket and shorts. Then in the 80's again. Bitten by loads of bugs when you stop for a drain-out. Roads much better today, but still broken up in places. Stopped at a nice place called Cass Lake for a late breakfast (pictured). Restful day. 76 miles. Average speed 13.5mph.



Cass Lake

Friday 30th May 2014

Left Bemidji about 7am and arrived in Grand Forks about 4.30pm. Quite warm when I left, just short sleeved top and shorts. Made good progress. Road surface good. Then last 35 miles slightly uphill into a strong headwind, only maintaining 8-10mph. Then to finish the day off thunder and lightening. Then crossing the bridge into Grand Forks and North Dakota (see picture). 114 miles. Average speed 13.5mph.

Bridge into Grand Forks and North Dakota

Saturday 31st May 2014

Devils Lake, North Dakota. Left Grand Forks at 7am. Thermal top and shorts. It was spitting with rain, but thankfully held off. Some of the roads were terrible, but I had the wind in my favour. Super 8 hotel was full so found another across the street. The Mosquitos are everywhere. Just going out to find food I got bitten quite a few times! 88miles. Average speed 13.9mph.

Sunday 1st June 2014

Minot, North Dakota. Left Devils Lake at 5.30am. Very misty for first 40 miles. Then stopped for breakfast at a place called Rugby. This happens to be the geographical centre of North America. Road surface and terrain good. Winds favourable. Then torrential at end trying to find my hotel. Going to celebrate tonight because I am now at the halfway point. Going to have a rest day tomorrow. 131 miles. Average speed 15.4mph.